It feels like a contradiction: hermiting yourself away, working in solitude and mystery, and yet also being a public figure? Is such a thing possible?

The thing about being shrouded in mystery is, people have to know you exist. There’s no mystery to something you’re not even aware of in the first place. It’s just a non-factor.

So if it’s your thing to go hole up somewhere meditating and occasionally revealing your wisdom (sounds like a good gig), make it an ivory tower that people can see for miles.

You have to be visibly secret, to inspire wonder.